i may be a little biased, but i applaud the clear and convincing voice of my friend paul ryan. [cheers and applause] now, if i were to offer advice to any person who was or became the president of the united states, it would be this. do whatever you can to keep america strong, to keep america prosperous and free and the most powerful nation on earth. it's no secret that the last century was an american century, and it's a secret that over the span of the coming century, that is not written in the stars. america's preeminent position is not guaranteed, and the consequence, if america were to become surpassed by another nation, would be devastating. why do i say that? is because the other leading contenders for world leadership, china, russia, the jihadists, not one of them except freedom as we understand it. only america and american strength to preserve freedom for us and for the world and the people we love. [applause] freedom depends on america, and american leadership depends on a military so strong, so superior that no one would think to engage it. and our military strength